Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-10-21
CHAPTER V.--TuE FIRST FUNCTION.

gentlemen came into the draWlDg-rOOm.
This is not a common Medium, re-
member, Tom" said Sibyl 81 suppose
he must not be asked to sit down and
show off, like Mr.. Chick"
1--WE must have something, though"
Tom replied eff it's only to back up that
awful Cracker of his about the Red Man
of Abyssinia."
The general impression in the room,
which was now crowded with large com
psny invited to meet Herr Paulus, was
that something very startling indeed was
expected. The people looked at each other,
and at the guest Of the evening, with eyes
that plainly spoke of general expectation.
What did they expect? Most OF them
were old hands in Research, who looked
for nothing but some modification of the
usual business to which they were
thoroughly well accustomed. There
might be music in a darkened room-but
there was no accordion there might be
messages and raps but there were none
of the tuoes, rolls of paper and other ac
cessorie5 of the common seance. There
might be spirit photographs, an incarnated
spirit or two, or perhaps some message a
| little out of the common. More than this
was not expected by the experienced. OF
course there was a sprinklng Of young
people, beginners in the mystic science,
to whom every creak Of furniture is a
message from the dead, and every note on
an accordion out of tune is the music of
the heavenly spheres And there were
some, like Cicely Iangston, who fervent-
ly believed in. and ardently prayed for
the coming of new Prophet with a new
Revelation But the greater number con-
sisted of the old hands. Among the latter
was the well known Lavinia Medlock, pa
rent of Hetty, once the most fashionable
of all the mediums, but now, like others,
fallen into neglect and oOScurlty. She
looked on VITA an anxious and wistful
air, as if longing for wrinkle which
might start her afresh. Just so, if the
comparison be allowed, the Professor of
legerdemnin, when he is out of an en-
gagement, frequents the exhibitions of
those who are on the platform, in hopes of
picking up something new. But Lavinia' s
day was passed. The Rev. Benjamin
Ridge, too, Historiographer in ordinary to
the Cause, awaited the events of the even
ing with more than common interest. 1t
was long since there had been a sensation
in Spiritualism, and he scented materials
for copy" He was hungry for new
things because there are lines of literature
one need hardly explain, which are more
lucrative than that of Chronicler to the
Splritualists.
Again, Herr Paulus," Lady Augusta
whispered, will you forgive me? | have
asked all these people to meet you, as if you
were q common medium, such as come
over to us every year from America, and
want TO get money from US"
"GOur friends shall go away satisfied"
he said, smiling.
Ia fact, Il blank dullness was already
falling upon the party because 1t seemed
as II the expected programme WAS not TO
be carried out. No arrangements had
been made for seance. Now, If one Ia
asked to Il party to meet veLtriloquiSt'
ventriloquism is expected: if to meet Il
conjurer, we look fir tricks: if to meet a
pianist, we expect to hear him play: If
10 meet most eminent professor of Spr-
ltualism, we expect to have quite CONVEX
sation with the other world, and to get
some new lights, at least, on the way that
things are managed there.
will you have the room arranged ~
Lady Augusta asked him. My people
are very quick in moving and arranging
furniture"
"Not at ALL" Herr Paulus replied. 81
want no special arrangements"
The room can be darkened in a minute
by removing the lamps. Shall | have a
screen before the fire And shall the PEG
pie sit down."
"No darkness, if you please. Oh Lady
Augusta his eyes spoke pity, not re-
" =
its Of Light My Friends, assure YOU
have no need of Darkness
a L"Vini' N"dlOck heard and hung her
head. All her m .uifestations hadn bee PIE
uuceu Ia nened room. She had never
known single spirit who would work tor
her in tho light.
Mr. Chick heard and shifted, incredulOus
Everybody sat down who could lind
chairs, leaving a space in the middle OF
the room. Tom Langston remarked with
some interest that Mr.. Emanuel Chick
took up position beside the planolorte.
This gave him a back view of the perform
err and suggested watchful even sus-
! plcious, attitude. Mr.. Ridge and Lavinia
Medlock We're not slow to observe the
movement, and nodded to each other
meaning that the evening might possibly
| end with row, such row as happens
when treacherous person strikes q
/ match and the medium is discovered ca
pering about the room as the incarnated
spirit and playing the music OF Heaven
upou an accordion.
Herr Paulus stepped quietly forward
He looked slowly round the room, and
. then. raising himself to his full height he
5 lifted his right hand suddenly and uneX-
I pectedly. Everybody jumped No Ma Il
| festation. however, followed this action.
Then he spoke.
81 have come to this country" he said
with message. Do not think, pray
! that | am here as professional interpret.
S er and Medium by which spirits can
convey messages to you. My friends and
!, those who are the accepted, have inter
, course so free and unrestrained with the
souls of the living and the dead, and with
the spirits of the other world that the
poor and feeble utterances which have
: reached your ears are worthless to them
e Look, if you please, into the record of the
Q communications and ask yourselves how
far the world has been advanced by them
, My mission is to teach-to those who are
worthy, the old wisdom-the ancient way
You see in me n servant, a messenger
one who simply carries out his orders
, But rs it is we'll to prove in some way thai
70 | am what | profess TO be-a messenger
= ! have asked for and obtained certain
Y powers. Do not, pray you, think tha
these powers constitute my message
a They do no more than Illustrate it
Such Powers as have been conferred upol
Z me are within the reach-not of all"-h,
= looked, perhaps unconsciously, at LAWN
G ia Medlock-"but of some in this room
5 his eyes fell upon Hetty Medlock, whC
c sat in the front beside Cicely. "rhos,
G who desire the ancient way for the sake o